Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 19: The J&K Government in a landmark decision today restored the provisions of waiting list for recruitment in Government departments.
The decision was taken in the UT Administrative Council (AC) meeting held here, under the Chairmanship of Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha. The Administrative Council approved re-consideration of its earlier decision dated 07-09-2023 and restored enabling provisions for drawing up of wait lists in recruitment to public services in the Government departments.
The Administrative Council decided to withdraw amendments made out in the J&K Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment Rules, 2010 in terms of S.O 496 of 2023, J&K, Appointment of Class-IV (Special Recruitment) Rules, 2020 vide S.O. 497 of 2023, J&K Combined Competitive Examination Rules, 2018 vide S.O.498 of 2023 and also in the Business Regulations of JKPSC/JKSSB, and other rules/regulations in any other departments/ service ab-initio.
The Administrative Council also decided to grant one time exemption to recruiting agencies to draw up wait list within six months, for those select lists, which have been issued since earlier decision. However, this will be subject to the condition that such waiting list(s) are drawn within validity period of the select list and resultant vacancies on account of non-joining of selected candidates have not been re-advertised.
The highly placed official sources told Excelsior that the decision was taken for timely filling up of the vacancies in the various Government departments of the UT of J&K. Besides, the decision will help in timely filling up of vacancies, with additional benefits such as avoidance of delays in re-referral of vacancies, reduction of time consumed in subsequent selections, and allow candidates to secure employment before attainment of upper-age limit.
It may be recalled Jammu and Kashmir Government had done away with the provision of preparing waiting lists for recruitment in Government services on September 7 last year. The administration had repealed the rules mandating recruiting agencies to draw a waiting list for filling dropout vacancies for each job test.
Sources said last year the General Administration Department (GAD) issued three separate notifications to repeal the rules mandating recruiting agencies like Public Service Commission, the Services Selection Board to prepare a wait list, in addition to select list. Worth mentioning, in addition to the select list, a wait list was prepared by recruiting agencies for the purpose of considering the candidates of the waitlist against “dropout” vacancies.
As per these notifications, issued at that time the UT Government had done away with Rule 7 of Jammu & Kashmir appointment to Class IVth (special recruitment) rules- 2020, sub-rule (7) of rule 14 of The Jammu & Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Rules, 2020 and proviso first to sub-rule(1) of rule 16 the Jammu & Kashmir combined competitive examination rules, 2018.
The decision had evoked a strong resentment with various youth and student organisations taking to streets to protest against the decision and demanding the restoration of waiting list in recruitment. Sources said the GAD order had done away with the waiting lists both in J&K Public Service Commission and Services Selection Board (SSB) turning future of hundreds of candidates bleak. Sources said that there were waiting lists of hundreds of candidates in Jal Shakti, for the posts of Sub Inspectors in Police Department, VLWs etc.
Sources said during the recruitment process launched last year for filling up of vacant posts in various departments the written tests were taken in a span of some days and many candidates qualified for various posts. After the appointment orders were issued a candidate selected for three posts could only join one post while the two posts in other departments fell vacant and by doing away with the waiting list it was a grave injustice with other candidates falling in the waiting list. However, with today’s decision of Administrative Council led by Lt Governor these candidates have been provided a big relief.
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